“I may have done some fact-checking.”
“Like what?”
“Look, I don’t feel good about this, but I had to know,” he said, not looking at her.
“What did you do, Milo?”
“I found an interview with him from a couple of years ago where they did one of those rapid-fire things. You know,favourite colour, food, music, film, and all that. I messaged Eddie on the app and asked him. They all match.”
“Ah.”
“That’s all you’ve got to say?”
“I’m processing.”
“Well, do it quicker. I need advice. What the fuck am I supposed to do?”
“You can’t out him. You’d never be able to live with yourself.”
“Of course I’m not gonna out him. Even if he made that transphobic comment. Did you see that?”
“What? The idiotic comment he madetwentyyears ago at university? Hargreaves made his on live TV this summer, and not only was it far worse, but he wouldn’t apologise and is using it to get the party leadership.”
“Are you defending Eddie for what he said?”
“Milo, it was twenty years ago. People make mistakes. At least let the guy explain himself first. You’re sounding like Kieran.”
“Bitch!”
“Put the comment aside until we know more. Do you want to keep seeing Eddie, if it is him?”
“I can’t. There’s no way. Imagine if Kieran found out.”
“Fuck that judgmental bitch. Do you want to keep seeing Eddie or not?”
Milo was torn. In his heart, he knew he wanted to keep seeing Eddie, but how was that even possible? He’d never even seen his face, although obviously he now knew what he looked like. Their amazing chemistry might only apply to the bedroom, and the dark for that matter. What if when their eyes met the connection wasn’t there? And could Milo be with someone who was closeted? It wasn’t like he could hide who he was, and why should he?
“I can hear your brain catastrophising from here,” said Lexie.
“There’s no way we could ever work. Say he can explain that comment away. It changes nothing. He’s in the closet, and even if he came out, he’s the favourite to be the next prime minister.”
“Ooh, you could be the UK’s First Lady!”
“That’s not a thing.”
“I’m sure you would make it your own.”
“I can’t. I just can’t be in a world where I can’t be myself.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’ve already done it.”
She looked at him suspiciously. “What have you done, Milo?”
He took out his phone, opened the app and passed it to her. She looked at the grid of faceless torsos, looking confused.
“What am I looking for?”
